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Media News Billboard: Ratings slide sees Lite adjust line-up

LITE FM, the Dublin radio station owned by UTV, is expected to announce format changes next month arising from market research it is conducting. The station is bidding to halt its recent slide in the ratings, which saw it suffer a five-point fall in listeners to 7% in the latest Joint National Listenership Research figures.

The station, which has traditionally targeted itself at the 35-plus age group, has already introduced some subtle changes to its line-up. Declan King no longer reads the sports bulletins, which are now handled by the newsreaders. Mike Maloney and Vere Wynne-Jones, who has been battling illness, are no longer filling their respective afternoon and weekend slots.

Lite is also facing extra competition next year with the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland set to issue up to four new licences for the Dublin area. Martin Block, Lite’s former chief executive, who left the station earlier this year